This was most interesting to me as a Northamptonian, long in exile; probably some sixty or more years ago, I remember visiting, as a schoolboy, in the company of my car enthusiast elder brother and his friend, a premises at I believe, the village of Old, betwixt Northampton and Kettering. In what I recall as a large green corrugated iron shed, we were shown three or four of these Skirrow JAPs, which were raced at the nearby Brafield Stadium, later a venue for Stock Car racing. I didn't know how Brafield Stadium was built, or by whom, but I believe it is still in use today, for the latter day equivalent I suppose - Midget racing. My brother, demobbed from National Service, lusted after a Morgan - one of the ones with a wheel missing - but couldn't afford one, so he acquired VV 1700, a 4 cylinder BSA 3 wheeler which, along with VV1701, in 1933 were the local constabulary's first police cars. The Skirrow's front end did look familiar, as the BSA sported a single cast iron brake drum, situated behind the number plate and oil used to quite readily migrate past the felt oil seal into the brake drum. There were regular Saturday morning pilgrimages to Redheads on Abington Square for replacements - necessary, as the car would get those lacking imagination, from A to B at up to 85mph - but would stop at about 'W'!
Ivan, you are living the dream, telling us awesome stories, playing with awesome old cars, sounds like you're hanging out with pretty women, keep it up sir!
I really like this guy. While he was telling us a bit of its history I found myself smiling all the way through. Really what a cool dude! Thank you for keeping that beaut going and having the the bits to give it a proper little go-around.
I have enjoyed this channel for a long time and it has never been better, well done and thank you all for sharing your knowledge and love for these facinating pieces of racing history. As Nuouvalari said below, special thanks to Tanya for great camera work and editing for final presentation. Oh, and yes please, I would love to see and hear more about this great little "RACER"
I would be very interested in the names of drivers who drove a Skirrow in the USA, most particularly the consistent winner. My mother dated a Midget racer in the 1936-40 era and she said in the beginning he had a 4 wheel drive car "until it got banned".No photos or other details, and she passed away 6 years ago. His name was Lyle Dickey, and he raced in the north east in the summer time and the Los Angeles area in the winter.
Now that’s interesting, and particularly so if there turns out to be a connection. Many here probably do not realize just how popular dirt track racing here in the States was after the war, and continues to be till this day. Nor do they realize just how fast the cars can go on a relatively short dirt oval. It may be debatable but many will claim that more horsepower can be linked up to a dirt track than on a pavement surface.
What that a ding against F1? haha. I was going to say this was a really unique piece, but just about everything I've seen Ivan fiddling about with is a unique piece.
Another great video - Interesting ,informative and it looked like terrific fun piloting the Skirrow - love the variety of cars and the depth of knowledge , good stuff.
It crosses my mind that Rex McCandless may have been thinking of the Skirrow when he made his two 4wd vehicles - the off-roader military Mule (powered by an early Norton Dominator engine and box), and the race car (powered by a Manx Norton)
Just when I thought there were no further whacky cars and stories coming our way, wonderful stuff, oh, and the new intro is amazing, really professional.
Fascinating Ivan, I love the BSA connection. Good to see you drive it, what a little rocket. Great film work, you have struck gold in finding Tania. Best wishes, Dean at Retromeccanica, Oxfordshire.
That is an ingenious racing car. Very clever. All that fun from 2 cylinders. They are wicked fast. No wonder they were banned. Yes another video on this car would be lovely. I love watching you tear up the grass in these cars.
Thanks Ivan for a truly great set of videos, I've enjoyed every one. Your idea of what is interesting about cars matches mine exactly - just wish I had your knowledge and skill, and your workshop! I also wish I had a John in my workshop! Tania's work is great, please thank her too. Keep up the good work.
Great video. Just to clarify Dave Hughes was a Baker in Cogenhoe, a village just outside Northampton UK, he had a workshop behind his bakers shop in the village. He opened a track for them to race at Brafield on the Green, also just outside Northampton. The track is still used for Stock Car and Banger Racing today, now known as Northampton Shaleway and owned by Spedeworth Motorsports.
Hello Ivan, thank you for the great videos. There was another running Skirrow owned by the late Roger Windley of Tattershal Lincolnshire. I saw him run it on his kart track and at the Station Park Hill Climb in about 2018.
Any info on any old machinery is valuable. She looks like she came off a merry-go-round. There are still a great number of 500s racing, so this is a real jewel. Lovely to see it being driven properly, hopefully you will show the documentation and pictures you have soon.
Ivan, what a guy, had me laughing as you drove that thing around the field, you are precious pal, keep making the videos, shame we didn’t see Tanya that was a tease 👴🏻👍
superb excellent vid, aweful music, plus we all want to see the low cut t-shirt camera woman. more more, more of this type of vid. like many other comments, I like your story telling tales. you are an excellent raconteur, plus best of all, an old man, like me, wearing sandals with no socks. top marks Ivan
Only just watched this, so if this has been suggested before forgive me, you said it was hard work to bump start this because of 4 wd but all you need to do is connect another cable and lever to the rear clutch then start it using only the front wheel drive. Love this channel but have many ideas and tricks that would help you, thanks for some good viewing
Thank you, Ivan and Tanya for an excellent, informative video. Yes, please, do a second video on the Skirrow cars. Time to smooth out the worst parts of the paddock? 🙂 Quick and easy job with a laser level and a laser receiver attached to a staff AND a younger person with mattock, shovel, rake and wheelbarrow.
I never miss an Ivan video, but this production really caught my eye. My family has been involved in dirt oval (Late Model class 21D) racing for many years here on the East Coast of the US. Fans may recognize my family name. Late Model might be a bit of a misnomer as the cars including the chassis, body, engines, and all components are 100% purpose built. All and all dirt oval is very popular in the States. Back in the day when I was a teenager, the mid 1960s, it was possible to get into oval racing on a high school student’s budget. Every Friday night, one had the chance to earn esteem from fellow students equal to that of the high school basketball or football star. Our local track had a $100 buy out class specifically for students. This class would rival the Main in popularity, think Little League baseball. The only rule was that if anyone offered $100 for your car, you were obligated to sell it. This is probably $1000 In today’s money. As a few unfortunates discovered - pouring money into a car or forcing the sale of a car - results all came down to driver skill. Though I will admit, the countryside was gleaned for certain discarded automobiles whose suspension geometry could be easily altered with a torch and welder for better handling and cornering ability. Midgets and quarter midget classes still exist today, but I would equate Ivan’s car, though small, a bit of a precursor in principle to a modern Sprint car. Today’s Sprint cars are still open wheel, radical to the extreme, very fast, and now even with full cages quite dangerous even for skilled drivers. What a great Channel ! It warms my heart seeing your family members involved in these productions. Tania is doing a great job. Recently I came across a video of an interview reminiscing specifically about your father and his history in the motoring world. I’ll try to find a link as I’m sure others might be interested.
Follow up on the above comment - search RUclips for channel “BrooklandsMemberstv” Member relived The Dutton Bugatti This is an interesting interview with Ivan’s son reminiscing about the family’s history in the motoring world and more specifically their history with Bugatti.
The total loss oiling system was popular on early motorcycles and was a real hazard when racing on the wooden, banked oval tracks. The farther into the race, the more slippery the surface became!
Love these videos Ivan. You are the sort of chap it would be a pleasure to sit and have a cuppa with and listen to you talk about your exploits. I have to ask this, are you any relation to the much missed David Dutton of Iver? he used to regale me with stories oh his Supercharged 1934 MG Midgets. Sadly at 6'5 I could never fit in one, or in his 1948 Jaguar XK120 prototype 😒
Great stuff. I`ve read the books about racing these and it must have been great to watch. Yours is a very rare survivor, long may it, and you, stay that way.
I believe a few of these Skirrow midgets were imported into the UK in the 1930's , when some motorcycle speedway promoters were looking to add a further attraction to their events.
Yes, a person can see that twin cylinder engine has got tremendous low end torque. We could see that without suspension your body gets thrown around in that cockpit on uneven ground. I would say that that would have been (one wicked machine) in the days prior to the war. I wondered if the Anzani engines were close to that quality?
Such an amazing piece of history, the simplicity is epic. You might be able to disengage either clutch with a separate lever, switch from 4 wheel drive, to either front or rear wheel drive to negotiate sharper corners. Maybe not 🤔
This is fast becoming the most fascinating and best put together channel on YT. Congrats to all and Tania for the improving presentation.
Well said - Regards Australia
This was most interesting to me as a Northamptonian, long in exile; probably some sixty or more years ago, I remember visiting, as a schoolboy, in the company of my car enthusiast elder brother and his friend, a premises at I believe, the village of Old, betwixt Northampton and Kettering. In what I recall as a large green corrugated iron shed, we were shown three or four of these Skirrow JAPs, which were raced at the nearby Brafield Stadium, later a venue for Stock Car racing. I didn't know how Brafield Stadium was built, or by whom, but I believe it is still in use today, for the latter day equivalent I suppose - Midget racing.
My brother, demobbed from National Service, lusted after a Morgan - one of the ones with a wheel missing - but couldn't afford one, so he acquired VV 1700, a 4 cylinder BSA 3 wheeler which, along with VV1701, in 1933 were the local constabulary's first police cars. The Skirrow's front end did look familiar, as the BSA sported a single cast iron brake drum, situated behind the number plate and oil used to quite readily migrate past the felt oil seal into the brake drum. There were regular Saturday morning pilgrimages to Redheads on Abington Square for replacements - necessary, as the car would get those lacking imagination, from A to B at up to 85mph - but would stop at about 'W'!
Priceless in every way Ivan. These videos are a testimony to your ingenuity and passion. Long may it last. An introduction to Tanya is long overdue!
Modeling her new range of 'I disturb Ivan' t-shirts : )
Out of the 150 or so cars I've owned it was always the ones with under 100 horsepower and skinny tires that were the most fun.
You have me beat.. of the 130 plus cars I have owned the under 100 HP were my favorites.
Among them my Fairthorpe Electron Climax and My Renault R8.
Another fascinating story and great camera work from Tanya. She has a lot more trust in your driving than I would have. 😂
He's a living legend and a national treasure, all rolled into one.
Ivan you are a raving bloody lunatic mate. In the nicest possible way haha.
When do we get to see Tanja with her low cut top then! Another brilliant video, thanks to everyone involved.
That intro was very well done Tanya!!! Excellent story and thankfully the car is definitely in the right hands----Love the channel!!!
Another great video Ivan and Tania, that car must be fantastic on a smooth circuit.
Ivan, you are living the dream, telling us awesome stories, playing with awesome old cars, sounds like you're hanging out with pretty women, keep it up sir!
Great to see a skirrow running, I’m the bsa fwd spares keeper and owner of a few bsa trikes so would be great to see some running together
The stories you know are automotive gold.
I really like this guy. While he was telling us a bit of its history I found myself smiling all the way through. Really what a cool dude! Thank you for keeping that beaut going and having the the bits to give it a proper little go-around.
Did you know he was one British Saloon Car Champion? He's a great character.
@@chrisjohnson4165 Trust me - "There's only one Ivan Dutton!"
Ivan: You look to be having more fun than any one man should have !! Well done.
I have enjoyed this channel for a long time and it has never been better, well done and thank you all for sharing your knowledge and love for these facinating pieces of racing history. As Nuouvalari said below, special thanks to Tanya for great camera work and editing for final presentation.
Oh, and yes please, I would love to see and hear more about this great little "RACER"
I could listen to this gentleman all day. Great work, Ivan and Tania too.
*Really enjoyed watching that, the 30s-50s hillclimb specials, sprint cars etc are just great*
Fascinating video Ivan. And so glad there is still plenty of lead in your pencil!
I would be very interested in the names of drivers who drove a Skirrow in the USA, most particularly the consistent winner. My mother dated a Midget racer in the 1936-40 era and she said in the beginning he had a 4 wheel drive car "until it got banned".No photos or other details, and she passed away 6 years ago. His name was Lyle Dickey, and he raced in the north east in the summer time and the Los Angeles area in the winter.
Now that’s interesting, and particularly so if there turns out to be a connection. Many here probably do not realize just how popular dirt track racing here in the States was after the war, and continues to be till this day. Nor do they realize just how fast the cars can go on a relatively short dirt oval. It may be debatable but many will claim that more horsepower can be linked up to a dirt track than on a pavement surface.
What that a ding against F1? haha.
I was going to say this was a really unique piece, but just about everything I've seen Ivan fiddling about with is a unique piece.
You're having too much fun!
Another great video - Interesting ,informative and it looked like terrific fun piloting the Skirrow - love the variety of cars and the depth of knowledge , good stuff.
I see two really interesting pieces of history here, a really cool old 4WD dirt midget & a really cool old car nut! 😎
What a brilliant video!
Ivan, your width and breadth of knowledge never ceases to interest and astound..
I love these videos, Especially the ones that have anything to do with vintage race cars…
gave me the tingles - sounded just like a pair of Jawa 2 valve solo's on the start line in the mid 70's What a magic machine
I just stumbled across this channel. Very interesting, just up my street. Excellent.
It crosses my mind that Rex McCandless may have been thinking of the Skirrow when he made his two 4wd vehicles - the off-roader military Mule (powered by an early Norton Dominator engine and box), and the race car (powered by a Manx Norton)
Don't know if I've seen anyone more passionate about engines than Ivan. He's not working, he's just having fun.
Just when I thought there were no further whacky cars and stories coming our way, wonderful stuff, oh, and the new intro is amazing, really professional.
What a neat 4 wheel drive system, it's a good example of KISS (keep it simple stupid) in engineering.
Fascinating Ivan, I love the BSA connection. Good to see you drive it, what a little rocket.
Great film work, you have struck gold in finding Tania.
Best wishes, Dean at Retromeccanica, Oxfordshire.
That is an ingenious racing car. Very clever. All that fun from 2 cylinders. They are wicked fast. No wonder they were banned. Yes another video on this car would be lovely. I love watching you tear up the grass in these cars.
Thanks Ivan for a truly great set of videos, I've enjoyed every one. Your idea of what is interesting about cars matches mine exactly - just wish I had your knowledge and skill, and your workshop! I also wish I had a John in my workshop! Tania's work is great, please thank her too. Keep up the good work.
Fantastic but more detail please. Keep up the great work.
Great video. Just to clarify Dave Hughes was a Baker in Cogenhoe, a village just outside Northampton UK, he had a workshop behind his bakers shop in the village. He opened a track for them to race at Brafield on the Green, also just outside Northampton. The track is still used for Stock Car and Banger Racing today, now known as Northampton Shaleway and owned by Spedeworth Motorsports.
Thanks for the video Ivan .Fascinated by the Skirrow since i saw one tucked away in a garage back in the 70's
Lovely little beast-John in Texas
Wow. More fun!
That's a very good save, Ivan (from one of those blokes who'd have popped that engine into a bicycle frame).
Your having way too much fun!!!
Hello Ivan, thank you for the great videos. There was another running Skirrow owned by the late Roger Windley of Tattershal Lincolnshire. I saw him run it on his kart track and at the Station Park Hill Climb in about 2018.
Just watched you on the Car and Classic channel - fantastic stuff Sir!
You have a new subscriber.
Brilliant stuff Ivan!
My favourite number.
Awesome car and builder and driver. Thank you All....
Crikey it takes off like a rocket, very quick.
Brilliant, just excellent. Thank you.
Happy Trails that a Great Racer you have there
Any info on any old machinery is valuable. She looks like she came off a merry-go-round. There are still a great number of 500s racing, so this is a real jewel. Lovely to see it being driven properly, hopefully you will show the documentation and pictures you have soon.
Always a great pleasure to watch your antics and work
Absolutely cracking video well done to all.
Excellent! Truly a man growing old disgracefully on his terms!
Ivan, what a guy, had me laughing as you drove that thing around the field, you are precious pal, keep making the videos, shame we didn’t see Tanya that was a tease 👴🏻👍
Liked and subscribed, a great story and a wonderful Grandad, Thanks.
Ivan you are a crazy old man. Never stop being a crazy old man.
Good job giving it a proper go!
Fantastic.
Brilliant!
superb excellent vid, aweful music, plus we all want to see the low cut t-shirt camera woman. more more, more of this type of vid. like many other comments, I like your story telling tales. you are an excellent raconteur, plus best of all, an old man, like me, wearing sandals with no socks. top marks Ivan
Ivan you must be the oldest Teenager in Aylsbury, and I Love It
Those opening titles are certainly on steroids (or something).
Head Banger!!! 😜
great as all ways, so much knowledge keep recording
This is brilliant but even more so, you bringing your knees together as you mention the young lady, more power to you!
Just spilled my morning tea laughing, you know why!
Looks like it would be a blast as a hill climber!
Jay Leno just has to come visit Ivan and the Skirrow!
I would love to see this at the Kop Hill Climb. Or Shere for that matter 👍
Ukrainian woman, low cut tee shirts, speedway machines ! an ad for fast and furious
No other words...can explain ones impression.
Just bril....
Mad fun...with balls
Gold 👍
Fabulous.
Only just watched this, so if this has been suggested before forgive me, you said it was hard work to bump start this because of 4 wd but all you need to do is connect another cable and lever to the rear clutch then start it using only the front wheel drive.
Love this channel but have many ideas and tricks that would help you, thanks for some good viewing
Thank you, Ivan and Tanya for an excellent, informative video. Yes, please, do a second video on the Skirrow cars. Time to smooth out the worst parts of the paddock? 🙂 Quick and easy job with a laser level and a laser receiver attached to a staff AND a younger person with mattock, shovel, rake and wheelbarrow.
As usual, very interesting..
I never miss an Ivan video, but this production really caught my eye. My family has been involved in dirt oval (Late Model class 21D) racing for many years here on the East Coast of the US. Fans may recognize my family name. Late Model might be a bit of a misnomer as the cars including the chassis, body, engines, and all components are 100% purpose built. All and all dirt oval is very popular in the States.
Back in the day when I was a teenager, the mid 1960s, it was possible to get into oval racing on a high school student’s budget. Every Friday night, one had the chance to earn esteem from fellow students equal to that of the high school basketball or football star. Our local track had a $100 buy out class specifically for students. This class would rival the Main in popularity, think Little League baseball. The only rule was that if anyone offered $100 for your car, you were obligated to sell it. This is probably $1000 In today’s money. As a few unfortunates discovered - pouring money into a car or forcing the sale of a car - results all came down to driver skill. Though I will admit, the countryside was gleaned for certain discarded automobiles whose suspension geometry could be easily altered with a torch and welder for better handling and cornering ability.
Midgets and quarter midget classes still exist today, but I would equate Ivan’s car, though small, a bit of a precursor in principle to a modern Sprint car. Today’s Sprint cars are still open wheel, radical to the extreme, very fast, and now even with full cages quite dangerous even for skilled drivers.
What a great Channel ! It warms my heart seeing your family members involved in these productions. Tania is doing a great job. Recently I came across a video of an interview reminiscing specifically about your father and his history in the motoring world. I’ll try to find a link as I’m sure others might be interested.
Follow up on the above comment - search RUclips for channel “BrooklandsMemberstv” Member relived The Dutton Bugatti
This is an interesting interview with Ivan’s son reminiscing about the family’s history in the motoring world and more specifically their history with Bugatti.
Fantastic. Loved the sound. Imagine four of them powering around a speedway inches apart.
There's testing and then there's testing ! almost all 4 wheels in the air.
Jesus that was lively brilliant 🇬🇧🍀👍
Cool 😎
Ivan what cracking content, i love the old race cars, not seen or heard of the Skirrow, very clever and simple bit of engineering .
How to run cooler in hot weather - Methanol & another exciting game of 'Spot-the-Loony' down the fields! Ah, England : )
Guess I’ll never not want to induce oversteer. Thought maybe I’d grow out of it. Ha!
Could smell the grass.
The total loss oiling system was popular on early motorcycles and was a real hazard when racing on the wooden, banked oval tracks. The farther into the race, the more slippery the surface became!
Love these videos Ivan. You are the sort of chap it would be a pleasure to sit and have a cuppa with and listen to you talk about your exploits.
I have to ask this, are you any relation to the much missed David Dutton of Iver? he used to regale me with stories oh his Supercharged 1934 MG Midgets. Sadly at 6'5 I could never fit in one, or in his 1948 Jaguar XK120 prototype 😒
Not to bad,. You need to be careful. Great video thanks
just bring it on, love your stories
Fascinating machine and history! It must be an absolute hoot to drive, on a smooth surface anyway. Thanks as always.
Love the intro.
Great stuff. I`ve read the books about racing these and it must have been great to watch. Yours is a very rare survivor, long may it, and you, stay that way.
One thing I could live without is the intro music I just do not get it way you think you need it otherwise I enjoy the videos!
At least make the intro and the body of the video at the same audio level!
Thanks for what you do.
JIM 😍
I believe a few of these Skirrow midgets were imported into the UK in the 1930's , when some motorcycle speedway promoters were looking to add a further attraction to their events.
Brilliant…. Many thanks for the videos.
Double Thumbs Up!!!!
Yes, a person can see that twin cylinder engine has got tremendous low end torque. We could see that without suspension your body gets thrown around in that cockpit on uneven ground. I would say that that would have been (one wicked machine) in the days prior to the war.
I wondered if the Anzani engines were close to that quality?
Thumbs up.💛💙
Such an amazing piece of history, the simplicity is epic. You might be able to disengage either clutch with a separate lever, switch from 4 wheel drive, to either front or rear wheel drive to negotiate sharper corners. Maybe not 🤔
SOME THINGS NEVER DIE . NO MATER HOW OLD YOU ARE WINK WINK. 😊😊😊